Swine Technician What They Do

Just the Facts

Insider Info

Swine technicians assist in the raising of hogs for meat production. They
tend to baby pigs, assist in the farrowing (birthing) process and help with
the breeding through artificial or natural insemination. They also tend to
equipment, bathe the animals and more.

They also perform medical procedures such as iron injections and ID tattooing.
They are also expected to keep good computer records and to participate as
a member of a team.

Not surprisingly, swine technicians spend a great deal of their days around
pigs. Muriel Power is a swine technician. She works for government. She says
she spends five to six hours a day around pigs.

Working around pigs may not sound like the most pleasant job. Pigs, after
all, have a reputation for being, well, dirty and smelly. But that is not
necessarily the case. Power says most pig breeders keep their farms very clean
because they don't want their animals to catch any diseases.

Yes, the pigs do smell, but Power says it doesn't bother her. "You are
in a barn, you must remember. And you are working with pigs, and they smell.
You can't get away from...the smell. But it is not unbearable." Power says
she wears a mask when she is working, but that's mostly to protect herself
against dust.

Swine technicians have to do some heavy lifting in their work, and move
around a lot. "You should be in good physical shape," says Power. "I suppose
you don't have to, but you should be. It would make it a lot easier if you
are, that's for sure."